Wacky, wild, and arguably a genius, Yvan Arpa is at it again with another interesting watch. He is last known for his role at the helm of Romain Jerome. He turned the small company that was loosing money, into a money attracting phenomenon with his Titanic DNA and Moon Dust DNA watches. Then recently he was abruptly fired by the Romain Jerome board. The board didn't like his unpredictable, energetic, and less than conservative personality, so they ousted him. The results of a recent court case in Switzerland brought by Arpa against Romain Jerome had Apra victorious. I am amazed that a case was resolved so quickly after he was terminated, and I wonder how much he will get in damages. Really Romain Jerome was foolish to fire the man that literally was the source of success for the company.

Thus, Arpa had the last laugh and "kicked the board in the behind." Which is quite coincidentally, another of Apra's passions - marital arts. He is a well known Bushido fighter, with a black belt. This fact may help relieve his strong personality (or add to it). Well, in conjunction with a few others, Yvan Arpa has combined his love of martial arts and watch making into a new product called the Black Belt watch.

The idea is interesting, and as crazy as Arpa is known to be. A special luxury watch that is only sold to people with documentable black belts from any style of martial arts. Basically, to purchase the watch you'll need to send them your black belt award certificate. Only then will you have the pleasure of spending 3,000 Swiss Francs to get one of the watches. Given Yvan's track record, the price isn't half bad.

The Black Belt watch itself is made completely in Switzerland and has an automatic mechanical movement, rose gold case back engraved with "For Black Belt Only" and is all dark with five shades of black all over the case. The black comes mostly from PVD coated steel done in a satin finish while the strap is a combination of specially textured rubber and waterproof calf leather. The look of the strap is meant to appear like the fabric of a kimono. Then you have the dial and hands. You can see the black belt image and text on the dial, with the hands that are meant to resemble the shinai wooden swords that are used for practice fighting. Lastly, you have the sandblasted steel bezel with Japanese Kanji characters on it.

Overall the look of the watch is silly and kind of cool at the same time. It communicates with our love of exclusivity and karate fighting at the same time. Hard to predict how many certified black belts out there will go for the watch, but what better way to communicate to people that they shouldn't mess with you. Plus, the price of 3,000 Swiss Francs makes it more or less accessible to a wider array of people than at least $25,000 Titanic DNA watches that Mr. Arpa was last working on. Oh, and a little bit of each watch sold will be donated to the "No Difference" foundation, whose goal it is to help handicap people participate in martial arts (voluntarily that is).The watch is currently available for pre-order.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

When I first mentioned that Breguet was going to have an exhibit at the Louvre I speculated that they might include as part of the collection the special Ref. 1160 pocket watch that was a painstakingly made (over three years of work) replica of the original Breguet Marie Antoinette pocket watch that was itself completed in the 1840s after almost 40 years of efforts. The exhibit does in fact display the Ref. 1160 pocket watch nicely and fans of the Breguet brand or horological history should check out the exhibit if they are in Paris up until the 6th of September. In addition to the Ref. 1160, there are a number of very interesting Breguet pocket watches, chronometers, clocks, and other items that you'll probably never get a change to see, all in beautiful restored condition.

For more information check out the mini site for the Breguet Louvre exhibit.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Do you know what happens during a feeding frenzy? Too many people arrive for chow and in the end there isn't enough food for everyone. Compounded with the fact that there is a diminishing amount of food, a real problem can arise. This is what happened with the watch industry. Things were looking so good for a few years that unwise minds thought that either the bubble wouldn't burst, or that they would get in while things were still good. Now people aren't buying as much luxury watches, and the overall industry is feeling the bite and trying to figure out what to do with all the extra unsold watches.

Before getting to the nasty figures, this situation is also a blessing in disguise. The last few years of the watch industry was almost a set-up for disaster. You had too many brands, too little realistic values, and way more watches than we had people to service them. Thus, there was going to be a major problem in a few years anyway. Now companies are realizing that they need to have actual back-end support on the technical and customer service side of things, and they are realizing that consumers are actually interested in the fact that if they pay $100,000 for a watch, it might actually be worth close to $100,000.

So, here are the numbers from the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry in brief. Sales in all top 30 markets are down. Here is the damages in some key markets from one year ago. US down 43%, Hong Kong down 22%, Japan down 29%, China down 36%, UAE down 34%, Russian down 61%, and Singapore down 30%. Big hits all around, but remember these are numbers just for Swiss watches.

It may look as though people just aren't buying as many watches these days. This assumption would be wrong. Recall that Swiss watches are for the most part the most expensive watches. Almost all segments of consumers are reducing the amount they are spending on timepieces, but they are still buying watches. Thus, the Japanese and American owned brands aren't doing amazingly, but aren't hurting nearly as badly. Some brands are even likely doing better given the focus on less expensive brands.

The message to watch companies is to focus on value. Make sure a watch demanding $5,000 is actually worth that, and can be communicated well to the consumer. Otherwise they will need to focus on the sub $1,000 segment if they wish to see any retail space in the next few years. Lastly, watch companies must adapt to the times and embrace the Internet as a strong sales, distribution, and marketing channel. They can learn from Rolex, the most powerful watch brand in terms of value, which also spends the most money on advertising. Coincidence? I think not. Estimates see these trends improving over the next few years, but we shall see just how much, and in what way that happens.

Via FHS report (PDF).

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Bulova continues to creep up market and some of the latest offerings are clear indication of that. Funny enough the once American, now Japanese (Citizen watches owned) watch maker seems to be using less Japanese movements now as opposed to before. As such, this Bulova Accutron Edison GMT watch contains a high-grade Swiss ETA 2893-2 automatic mechanical movement that I would have never guessed would end up in a watch like this.

Going along with the Japanese obsession for double naming products, what was once two labels is now one under this watch. Accutron used to be a separate label, but owned by Bulova. Now both names are mashed on the face in a seemingly unnecessary attempt to gain as much brand recognition as possible. I will let it slide though as it is just one of those Japanese marketing quirks. The focus on the watch is the large applied Arabic hour indicators while the GMT hand is smaller and has its own ring that doubles as an hour indicator path for the hour hand. I like the little red GMT hand that looks almost cute. The lugs on the 41mm wide steel case look to be direct homages to those on classic Accutron watches - namely the popular Spaceview. Aside from the odd looking "two highways intersecting" graphic in the middle of the watch, things seem to be pretty classic "on the Edison GMT watch front." The caseback has a movement display window and the watch is water resistant to 50 meters. The crystal is sapphire. No price yet, but I would expect just a couple of thousand dollars for this new Bulova Accutron timepiece.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

I got a nice chance to play with these larger IWC Ingeniuer watches recently and boy do they make an impact. The mechanical prowess you feel from handing the case is intense, even though they have "basic" calibre 89360 automatic flyback chronograph movements inside (love that the top subdial is used for minutes AND hours). I jest because the movement is manufacture made by IWC and is quite impressive. At 45.5mm wide (and 14.5mm tall), the steel, 18k rose gold, or platinum cases are hefty and well sculpted. Attached to the case are alligator straps. The Big IWC Ingeniuer that can be obtained in platinum has got to be one of the heaviest watches out there without a bracelet, and I love it. The dials are really easy to ready and the action of the chronograph pushers is pleasing. There are some sharper edges on the back of the case, but it is not a big deal really.

With a "scientific watch" heritage, the Ingenieur watch line has come a long way with the pictured style being the dominant look of the watch line today. It really isn't for every man, but enough people are going to love the technical, though luxurious look and personality of the watch. It can easily be dressed up or down, and is the perfect type of watch that you can rely on for decades, or generations for that matter (with proper service). The slate gray or white colored dials have nice contrasting subdials and enough decoration to make you feel good about your aggressively styled luxury Swiss watch. Available now.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Pierre Kunz could be another luxury watch brand that will fall victim to "the crisis" or as the luxury watch industry is less than affectionately referring to the current economic downturn. I reported a while ago that Franck Muller was about to cut a large number of jobs. Looks like things are worse than expected at the company who owns watch brand Pierre Kunz, among a couple of other more boutique brands - Pierre Kunz being the most well known. According to the Tribune De Geneve, Franck Muller can "no longer support its young brands." It is unclear whether this means Franck Muller operated brands like Pierre Kunz will cease operation, be sold, or be "consolidated" somehow.

Pierre Kunz has some innovative and beautiful models under its catalog including the pictured G703 T STR Tourbillon and the Infinity Looping Black Steel watches. They have even announced new watches recently. In instances where a brand is highly marketable but its parent company does not have the funds to continue to support it, there is often an interested outside buyer who will save the small manufacture. It is unclear in today's economy how likely this is for Pierre Kunz. Other Franck Muller brands likely to kick the bucket are ECW, Rodolphe, and Barthelay.

Via WorldTempus (in mostly French).

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Concord and I have had a funny little brief history as I have not been as kind to their watch designs as they would have hoped for. I reviewed such watches at their "$$$,$$$" priced Quantum Gravity Tourbillon with less than jovial enthusiasm. Concord even responded to me via their CEO Vincent Perriard who admirably defended the brand, and his ideas. It was a sign of his dedication to his position and the brand that he helped rebuild. Now that dedication has waned and Mr. Perriard has resigned from Concord, to be effective as soon as possible. He will now take the helm at TechnoMarine, a wholly different type of watch company fitting into a lower end segment with much higher volume production.

I have to ask myself whether this move was prompted by Mr. Perriard's outgrowing of Concord, or vice versa. There have been many critics (such as myself) of where Concord strayed during its "re-birth." Others seemingly loved it as a few of the watches even received design awards. Though I suppose not all was well, and now the critics may have prevailed as Concord might have the possibility to offer arguably more "marketable" watches under new leadership (as of now still undecided). I can't speak as to the sentiments on each side of the table, but I sense a degree of "bad blood" as it appears Perriard ditched camp before his time was due - leaving Concord floundering to fill the position and delicately plan its future. We will see what types of new ideas Perriard can breathe into TechnoMarine that has traditionally enjoyed a fair amount of market success.

Via WorldTempus (in French).

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Peter Zumthor is now $100,000 richer, and you probably have no idea who he is. The reclusive, introverted Swiss architect won the highly coveted Pritzker Prize. Zumthor is well-known in the architecture field – revered, even – but few know of him otherwise.

At first, little on Zumthor's resume. He's built a one-room chapel in a German farm field. A public bath and a handful of museums also bear his visual signature. Of course, an interpretive center at the size of what was once Gestapo headquarters catches a bit of attention, but that's about it. His style is austere, not what usually forces its way into the headlines.

The Pritzker jury chose Zumthor largely because this isn't the best time to reward ostentation. The Swiss architect's approach, which focuses only on the essentials, is effectively calibrated to global sentiment ... and brutal fiscal reality.

Zumthor will receive his gold medallion and check at the grand Legislative Palace of the City Council on May 29, 2009 in Buenos Aires. Look for him on the red carpet ... kidding.

A small town in Switzerland is fighting to be able to do something most town's take for granted: put its name on its wine bottles. Despite the fact that the village has been in existence for over 1000 years, and has been producing wine since at least as far back as The Middle Ages, there's a ban in place keeping the town name of 'Champagne' from appearing on its wine and food labels. A deal struck back in 2004 between the European Union and Switzerland (in order to protect the French wine-producing region of the same name) is to blame, and as a result the poor town of 713 residents has been experiencing steady drops in sales and may even lose jobs in the future. The residents are fighting it, but so far to no avail. Poor Champagne.

This seemed like a joke at first, but truly Rinspeed, a Swiss company known for their innovative and out-of-the-box designs, has created a car that goes from land to sea in seconds. An all-electric car with one motor for land and two to propel it underwater, this beauty will put the sea in your grasp while riding in style. A salt-resistant interior, on-board breathing apparatus which acts much like scuba gear, open cockpit for safety and viewing pleasure, as well as a laser sensor system for driverless motoring, Rinspeed seems to have thought of it all! Take the sQuba for a spin ... and then a dip. If you are as surprised as I was that this really exists and works underwater check out the gallery below -- you won't believe your eyes.

Most of us picture art thieves as slinky sleuth types who sneak in under cover of night and quietly disable the alarm system, but apparently that's not what works best in Switzerland. This past Sunday 3 masked men dressed all in black burst into a private museum in Zurich in the middle of the day and took 4 paintings valued at £85 million by simply ripping them off the walls and running. They were in and out of the building and flying down the road in a beater of a white car in less than 3 minutes! Amazing. Sad, and outrageously embarrassing for Switzerland, but amazing.

The truly sad part is that they made off with some major and historic pieces of art: Cézanne's The Boy in a Red Vest, Degas's Viscount Lepic and his Daughters, Monet's Poppies Near Vetheuil, and Van Gogh's Blossoming Chestnut Branches. What a tragedy! I hope they get caught before the art is lost underground forever.

There are many people in the world who fly frequently and as such are often subject to airline food, despite it's nasty reputation of being nothing but reheated cardboard. Some airlines, however, are seeking to change that in a major way for their first class passengers -- even to the extent for some of having a chef on board (Gulf Airlines) and serving exotic gourmet dishes.

Among others Singapore Airlines offers a choice of Dom Perignon or Krug champagne, several airlines serve caviar as appetizer, and Malaysia Airlines serves their meals on fine china. Would you (or do you) choose your airline based on the first class meal options?

Ventura, a Swiss company known for its digital watches has two new models they are bringing to Baselworld next month. The first is the v-tec Kappa designed by Swiss architect and designer Hannes Wettstein. It has a titanium case that is put under a vacuum and submitted to high pressures and heat then cooled by liquid nitrogen and then given a liquid glass coating to protect it from scratches. The watches uses Ventura's VEN_04 movement which has a single scrolling cylinder that allows access to all functions. And the watches have an display that uses numbers with 229 segments rather than the basic seven segments for a smoother look. The Kappa will sell for around $2,000.

The v-tec Zeta was designed by Paolo Fancelli, who also designed the v-tec Sigma. The Zeta is meant to be a smaller version of the Sigma to be worn by women or men who want less of a wrist dominator. Some Zeta versions will feature composite-cases, combining Durinox steel and Bakelite-like resin. It uses the same VEN_04 movement caliber with the single scrolling cylinder and sells for around $1,600. Pics of the Zeta and the black version of the Kappa after the jump.

There are two main advantages to using a stone cheese board instead of a wooden one. First, the naturally cooler temperature keeps very soft cheeses together longer, which makes them easier to serve. Second, they are significantly easier to clean than wooden boards, some of which may crack or warp after washings. In addition to those two features, this Mexican Alabaster Cheese Board is cut to resemble a giant wedge of Swiss, and the color of the stone really flatters the design. It measures 10" x 10" and comes with a stainless steel cheese knife. In addition to being a great serving piece, the set would also make a wonderful gift for any cheese-loving friends. Price: $100.

With Halloween coming up, not to mention all the other skull stuff that we've seen lately, it seemed worthwhile to mention this SIGG Skull Bottle. The Swiss-made aluminum bottle is unbreakable, very lightweight and 100% recyclable. The 24-oz. bottles are taste-neutral, so you can store any type of beverage in them. One final feature is that the skull glows in the dark, which might not be a selling point for a lot of adults, but would definitely make it a more appealing Halloween "treat" if you wanted to give the kids something other than candy. Price: $20.

[via The Cool Hunter]